Nominations invited for 2008 annual UUSC social justice awards

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has honored two social justice activists with its top awards for outstanding activism and commitment to principles that promote human rights and social justice. The 2006 awards were presented June 23 at UUSC’s Annual Meeting and Celebration, held in St. Louis, Mo., as part of the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Social Action Leadership Award was presented to Jim Bole of Golden, Colo., and the Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award to Mike Sandmel, 16, of Brookline, Mass.

Social Action Leadership Award
UUSC President Charlie Clements presented Jim Bole with the Social Action Leadership Award for his outstanding leadership and long-time advocacy for UUSC in his congregation and his community.

Bole most recently participated in the UUSC-Lakota JustWorks camp in South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation, and organized a funding of two scholarships for young people in his church to take part in JustWorks camps.

Clements said that Bole has been an enthusiastic messenger of the overall work of the Service Committee and human rights. Bole is a local representative and regional coordinator for UUSC's Volunteer Network. In 2004, he was recognized as an Outstanding Local Representative.

After accepting the award, Bole said he has enjoyed being part of a dynamic social justice task force at his church, Jefferson Unitarian in Golden, Colorado, and gave credit to other church members for establishing vibrant committees.

The Social Action Leadership Award was established by UUSC in 1977 to honor creative, inspiring and effective leadership by an individual or group working for justice in cooperation with the Service Committee. The recipient must have provided an outstanding model of committed and effective action on UUSC programs, priorities and public policy positions.


Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award
Mike Sandmel, 16, is completing his sophomore year at Brookline High School. Among his many social justice activities, he participated in UUSC's JustWorks camp in Boston that was part of our Defending Democracy 2004 campaign. He also supported a UUSC initiative in his community by working with Students Action for Justice and Education in its successful campaign to pass a living wage ordinance in Brookline.

"Mike models a great commitment to social justice work on a range of issues for peers in his high school, in his UU youth group, and in the Mass Bay district," said Rachel Binderman, UUSC associate for member development.

Afterwards, Sandmel’s mother, Barbara Simonetti, beamed, "We couldn’t be prouder."

"Mike lives social justice." For example, she said, in 2004 when his parents offered him a trip to the destination of his choice he chose not a beach vacation but a trip to New York City to join a demonstration against the Iraq War. He was only 13 years old at the time.

He is a peer leader, bringing opportunities for social action, protests, and campaigns to others, and is a role model for social justice work on a range of issues for fellow students in his high school, in his UU youth group, and in the Mass Bay district. He led a social action conference in January 2006 that included workshops on such issues as teen empowerment, prison reform, gay prisoners’ rights, teen pregnancy and comprehensive sexuality education. He also organized a UUA-led antiracism training at the conference.

The Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award was established in 2000 to recognize and honor the achievement of young people who advance human rights and social justice through activism and leadership. The recipient(s) must demonstrate a commitment to social justice and human rights through participation in a UUSC program of service, action and/or advocacy.

Outstanding Local Representative Award
UUSC also presented Outstanding Local Representative awards to three dedicated members who have worked tirelessly to promote UUSC membership, our programs and our advocacy work in their UU congregations. They are Winnie Tyler of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem, Pa.; Ira Mendelsberg, of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, N.J.; and Dan Moen, of the First Universalist Church of Denver, Colo.

The Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award was established in 2000 to recognize and honor the achievement of young people who advance human rights and social justice through activism and leadership. The recipient(s) must demonstrate a commitment to social justice and human rights through participation in a UUSC program of service, action and/or advocacy.